Selmer 6 string lap steel

sliding bill · Post by **sliding bill** » 23 Aug 2000 1:54 pm

Spotted a Selmer 6 string lap steel in a second hand shop.
Looks a little battered but I wondered if it was worth adding to my increasing store of slidy instruments.
Anyone know anything about this manufacturer ?
What would you think it was worth ?
(always useful information since it justifies the storage space to "the boss")

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 23 Aug 2000 2:15 pm

I'm not near any reference books, so take this with a grain of salt, but:

Selmer is mostly known for saxophones and clarinets (most pros still play a Selmer sax), but they made the production version of Maccaferri's steel-string acoustics in the (late?) 30's and 40's. Some of them had internal resonators, and they are famous today mainly because Django Reinhardt played one. So they made at least one very respectable model of guitar. How old is yours?

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 23 Aug 2000 5:22 pm

Hi Sliding Bill,

If the Selmer is the Mahogany one...Then it's worth getting.

BTW.... Made in Germany.

------------------

Basil Henriques
Emmons D-10
and
Emmons D-10
1949 "Leilani"
RICKENBACKER "Olde Uglie" Twin 8

<SMALL>Steel players do it without fretting</SMALL>

http://homepage.tinet.ie/~basilh/

http://www.stax-a-trax.com/

Jittery Jules · Post by **Jittery Jules** » 24 Aug 2000 12:18 pm

The beast in question is well battered and seems to be fairly low quality wood painted cream (from new). The tone and volume controls are set ons sqare apttern art deco style chromed plate - scratched but recoverable. The maker is Selmer of London. Any ideas?

sliding bill · Post by **sliding bill** » 25 Aug 2000 7:09 am

Well well,
Jules arrives with a post !

Nice to see another local slider.
Not many of us around in NW UK

How much would you pay for the Selmer ?
The metal parts could be recycled (or even copied).

Would be nice to play it though.

The price is probably negociable but ............

As usual - advice is welcome.

Bill
Bolton
England

Ally · Post by **Ally** » 29 Aug 2000 5:17 am

Selmer were distributers for numerous guitar companies in the 50s and 60s as well as being the leading UK amp manufacturer at the time. The Beatles and Animals and thousands of others used Selmer amps before Vox came on the scene.

They also distributed guitars and other instruments, sometimes rebadged as Selmer. Mostly these were Hofners -- I know they put a few lap steel models, a few of which were finished in cream, so this could be what you're seeing.

How much is it? If you're not interested, I am... can't find a lap steel up here anywhere!

Oh, and the Beatles used a Hofner lap steel ....